Table-top protector



0. WINTER.

TABLE TOP PROTECTOR. APPLICATION nuzu MAY 3. I917.

Patented Dec. 6, 12'1.

OSCAR WINTER,

0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TABLE-TOP PROTECTOR.

To all whom, it may concern:

c it known that 1, Oscar VINTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Top Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

he object of the invention is the improvement of the well known table top protector or mat comprised of slightly separated folding sections, each section having two layers of asbestos cemented to an intermediate integral sheet, the said sections being inclosed in two outer sheets of flexible material and a row of stitches passed through the said integral sheet and the two outer sheets between the slightly separated sections, thus forming folding lines or hinges.

It has been found that in the use of such protectors or mats the asbestos layers soon break on irregular lines resultingdn the formation of uneven surfaces, that wrinkles and projecting folds in the outer sheets soon develop each side the folding lines, and that the sections become stretched apart and wabbling with relativel wide and deep creases on the folding lines, the edges bounding said creases presenting obstructions to dishes and goblets moved along the surface of the mat and overturning or spilling the contents thereof.

I have obviated the above perfections by constructing a protector or mat of sections of specially prepared soft non-heat-conducting wool felt with an intermediate water and moisture-proof stri of material between the same on the folding line, adding to the outer suriaces of the wool felt layers of water and moisture-proof fabric and firmly stitching said five layers together each side of the folding line with two separated rows of stitches. Finally, I have inclosed the said body portions thus formed within two outer sheets of canton flannel or other flexible cloth, ornamental or otherwise, stitched the said intennediate strip and outer coverings together between the sections on the folding line, then (which is of importance) applied two rows of stitches to all the layers of material, outer and inner, one row each side and a short dismentioned im- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 3, 1917.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921. Serial No. 166,208.

tance from the slightly separate-d edges of the wool felt layers. The presence ofthese latter rowsof stitches limits the stretching of the fabrics forming the hinge to the parts thereofbetween said rows of stitches, which issufiicient to permit folding of the sections without tearing or rending the fabric. 7 a result of this construction folds and wrinkles in the outer covering are prevented, the edges of the inner sections do not project, the wahbling is prevented, and there are no wide and deep creases between the sections when the protector is unfolded and in use.

To the outer edge of the mat or protector a binding is applied in the well known way. The shapes of these units are immaterial, but two half circular parts placed edge to edge may serve to cover a round top table, and mute of suitable shape may be used in addition when the top of an extension table is to be protected from heat and moisture.

In conformity with the above exposition of the object of my improvement, the inventlon consists in certain novelties of construe tion and combinations of parts as herein set forth and claimed. 7

he accompanying drawingillustrates the embodiment of being constructed and combined according the improvement, the parts to thev best mode of procedure I have so far devised for the purpose.

*i ure l is a plan view of a part of an entire protector or mat, showing three folding lines or hinges.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the protector of Fig. l as it appears When folded.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of disclosing one of the hinges, with broken away to illustrate the tions of the several layers or terial. V

Fig. l is an enlarged section on line 00-511 of Fig. 1.

The elements which constitute the protector or mat are designated as follows:

A A are two layers or sheets of wool felt with an intermediate strip of water and moistureproof fabric B extending the entire length of each hinge or folding line. C C are layers or sheets of oilcloth or other waterproof fabric corresponding in size or area with the layers or sheets A A and they are located upon the outer surfaces of said sheets. These parts A, B and C are secured together by the tw lines of stitches 1, 1, as

Fig. 1,

parts relative posisheets of mafabrics between of stitches 2, 2 are passed through the outer coverings D D and strip B, the stitches drawing the material of coverings D down slightly between the edges of the wool felt A A. Each side of the folding line'or hinge a row of stitches 3 is passed through Finally, a bindthe all the layers of material. ing E is applied to the outer edge of assembled layers or sheets.

Aprotector. or mat as thus constructed curesthe imperfections appertaining to the protector or mat hereinbefore described.

The wool. felt prevents the transmission of heat to the table. The oilcloth and strip B prevent the transmission of water or moisture. The two rows of stitches 3, 3 prevent the formation of folds or wrinkles in the exterior covering outside the hinges,- confine the stretching of the material to the said two rows of stitches when the protector or mat is folded, and hold the sections in'place so there are no wide creases or loose wabbling of the parts each relative to the other. The entire protector or mat is soft and fieizible, maintains its shape and level surface without the use ofglue or cement, and as a whole constitutes a 'very superior article for the purpose desi ed.

hat Iclaim is:

1. The combination in a table top protector havingtwo outer sheets of flexible material, of a plurality of sectionsof nonheat-conducting sheets slightly separated from one another at their adjacent edges and arranged between said outer sheets, a row of stitches assed through the two outer sheets onthe olding line between theadjac'ent edges of the non-heat-conducting material; and rows of stitches, 3, 3, passed through all the sheets of material one row on each side and adjacent to a folding line or hinge, for the purpose set forth.

.2. The combination in a table top protector having two outer sheets of flexible material, of an inner strip. of flexible ma terial B, a plurality of sections of non-heatconducting sheets placedon each side of and overlapping said strip B and slightly separated from each other, stitches uniting 'the non-heat-conducting material and the strip B, a row of stitches uniting the two outer sheets of flexible material between the edges of the non-heat-conducting material, said stitches also passing through the strip B,

and'two rows of'stitc'hes3f3 through all the of flexible material secured to said sections at their edges, a row of stitches uniting said outer sheets between the edges of the nonheat conducting material, two sheets of oilcloth C C; rows of stitches 1, 1 passed through both sheets of oilclothand the nonheat conducting material; and two rows of stitches 3, 3 passed through all the sheets one row each side of a folding line and adjacent to the slightly separated edges of the sections of the non-heat-conducting sheets of material.

4. The combination in a table "top protector, of two outer sheets of flexible material, a plurality of sections of non-heatconducti'ng material arrangedbetween said outer sheets with their edges slightly sep-. arated, sheets of material impervious to moisture located between conducting material and an outer sheet of flexible Vmaterial, a row of stitches uniting said .outer sheets between the edges of the non-'heat-conducting material, and two rows of stitches through all the sheets of material pne'row beinglocatedeach side of a folding 5. The combination in a sectional protector or mat, of a plurality of sections of non-heat-conducting sheets arranged edge the non-heatingto edge, strips of material interposed betweenthe'ed'ges'of said sheets of non-heatconducting material, outer sheets of oilclothe'ach of substantially the same area as the sections of non-'heat-conducting ma.- terial, two sheets of outer Bflexible material constituting a covering, stitches uniting the said sections of non-heat-conducting material the 'oilcloth'sheets and the outer cov- V erings at their outer edges, and rows of stitches passed through the outer coverings and the said interposed strips of material at the abutting edges ofthe'sections of non heat-conducting sheets.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature.

Fos'oan WINTER.

'Witnesses:

FR-ED R."BOT-HELL,

'EDWARD Gr. EASTWOOD. 

